Where to swim in Vendée: beaches, islands and lakes to know

With more than 250 kilometres of coastline, two islands and numerous bodies of water, Vendée is one of the most sought-after departments for swimming in France. Large family beaches, rocky coves, surf spots or calmer lakes: there is something for every taste, provided you know where to go.

Here is our selection of the best places to swim in Vendée, from north to south along the coast, with the islands, the lakes and our advice for swimming safely.

Swimming in Vendée at a glance

The northern coast: from Noirmoutier to Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie

The northern part of the Vendée coast has very long stretches of fine sand, ideal for families. At Saint-Jean-de-Monts and Notre-Dame-de-Monts, the beach stretches for kilometres, with a gentle slope and wide open spaces even in the middle of summer. The pine forest along the coast offers shade and cycle paths to reach the beach.

Further south, Saint-Hilaire-de-Riez and Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie alternate large beaches with rocky coastline, with a few small coves at low tide.

The central coast: Brétignolles, Brem and Les Sables-d’Olonne

Between Saint-Gilles and Les Sables, the coast becomes wilder. Brétignolles-sur-Mer is the surf spot of Vendée, with its La Sauzaie and des Dunes beaches, very exposed to swell: the waves are a delight for surfers, but call for caution when swimming. At Brem-sur-Mer, the Dunes beach is lined by a preserved dune belt.

The grande plage des Sables-d’Olonne, curving in front of the town, is one of the finest on the Atlantic coast: sheltered, supervised and within walking distance of the centre, it is perfect with young children.

The southern coast: Jard-sur-Mer and La Tranche-sur-Mer

South of Les Sables, the coast becomes gentler and sunnier. At Jard-sur-Mer, the small beaches nestled between rocks and pines often offer calmer water. The forêt de Longeville borders large natural beaches, and La Tranche-sur-Mer, one of the sunniest resorts on the west coast, offers long family beaches and surf spots.

The islands: Noirmoutier and Yeu

The Noirmoutier island, linked to the mainland by a bridge and, at low tide, by the famous passage du Gois, has some very fine sheltered beaches, such as those of the bois de la Chaise, lined with holm oaks and beach huts. The Yeu island, reached by boat, offers a wild coastline to the south and small turquoise coves, such as the anse des Vieilles.

Swimming in a lake in Vendée

For warmer water and no waves, the lac d’Apremont, at the foot of its castle, has a beach supervised in summer, popular with families. Other bodies of water, such as the Lac de la Chausselière at La Guyonnière, are above all leisure bases for fishing, walking and water sports: check locally, as swimming is not permitted on all Vendée lakes.

Our advice for swimming safely

• Favour supervised beaches, between the flags of the bathing zone, in July and August;
• respect the colour of the flag at the rescue post and find out about currents, which can be strong on exposed beaches;
• check water quality on the official website of the Ministry of Health dedicated to bathing waters;
• watch tide times, especially on Noirmoutier and on beaches where the sea recedes a long way.

To better understand Atlantic currents, read our guide to baïnes.

Where to camp by the water in Vendée?

To enjoy the coast, several campsites are just a few minutes from the beaches. At Brem-sur-Mer, the L’Océan campsite gives access to the beaches of Brem and Brétignolles. At Les Sables-d’Olonne, the Bel Air campsite lets you reach the grande plage and the wild beaches to the south, and at Talmont-Saint-Hilaire, the Le Paradis campsite is well placed for the southern coast.

On the lake side, the La Bretonnière campsite, at Saint-Julien-des-Landes, offers a peaceful setting a quarter of an hour from the sea, and the Lac de la Chausselière campsite, at La Guyonnière, borders the lake of the same name and has a covered swimming pool. You can also find our ideas for discovering Vendée.

Our view

Vendée offers plenty of choice for swimming. With young children, favour the grande plage of Les Sables-d’Olonne, Saint-Jean-de-Monts or the sheltered beaches of Noirmoutier. For thrills, head for Brétignolles. And for calmer water, the lac d’Apremont is a fine alternative to the ocean.